Description

Most films tell tales, but what does that involve? How do motion pictures tease us into building what we all agree to call stories? In this study, David Bordwell offers the first comprehensive account of how movies use fundamental principles of narrative representation, unique features of the film medium, and diverse story-telling patterns to construct their fictional narratives. The result is a pioneering, far-reaching work which will change the way we perceive narrative film and which every serious film scholar, student or fan will welcome. This book is of crucial importance to film specialists. I cannot think that any film teacher/scholar would miss reading this work. Don Fredricksen, Cornell University David Bordwell s" Narration in the Fiction Film" is a major contribution to film studies and to narrative theory. The work, I predict, will be widely read, praised, debated, and damned. Brodwell s originality lies not so much in demonstrating the deficiencies of other theories, which he does very convincingly, but in the scope and design of his project, against which there is no competition of comparable intellectual weight. Jerry Carlson, DePaul University"show more

Review quote

"A comprehensive account of how movies use fundamental principles of narrative representation, unique features of the medium, and particular story-telling patterns to move and delight us. ... Should inspire all serious film theorists." --"Communications Booknotes"show more

About David Bordwell

David Bordwell is the Jacques Ledoux Professor of Film Studies at the University of Wisconsin Madison. His books include "Post-Theory," also published by the University of Wisconsin Press, "Making Meaning, The Cinema of Eisenstein, The Classical Hollywood Cinema," and many others."show more

Back cover copy

In this study, David Bordwell offers the first comprehensive account of how movies use fundamental principles of narrative representation, unique features of the film medium, and diverse story-telling patterns to construct their fictional narratives. The result is a pioneering, far-reaching work which will change the way we perceive narrative film--and which every serious film scholar, student or fan will welcome.show more